School spirit and Halloween fun will be on display during West Virginia Universitys Homecoming festivities Oct. 27-31. Traditional activities will include a parade on Halloween, Greek Games on the Plaza Green and king and queen elections.
Some friendly campaigning will kick the week off at noon Monday. Students will meet Homecoming candidates at a forum on the Grand Staircase in the Mountainlair. A record 44 candidates35 women and nine menare vying for this yearsHomecoming court.
In the afternoon, WVU students get to show off their creative talents during a banner contest in the Mountainlair. Judging is set to begin around 4:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, the fun continues as students go head-to-head in the Greek Games on theLair Plaza Green at 5 p.m. Fraternities and sororities pair up to compete in games of Twister, Dizzy Izzy and the Egg Toss.
Voting for Homecoming king and queen will also take place Tuesday and continue through Thursday. Students will be able to vote online through their MIX accounts. For added convenience, computers will be set up in the Mountainlair so that students can vote in between classes.
Just because its the month of ghosts and goblins, WVU faculty, staff and students shouldnt be afraid to give blood at the Red Cross blood drive. Sponsored by Greek organizations, the blood drive will be held from 1-7 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church.
Dress up as your favorite rock star and join the battle of the air bands at 5 p.m. Thursday on theLair Green. If it rains, the event will be moved inside to Stansbury Hall Gym.
On Friday, get those lawn chairs out early to reserve a spot along High Street for the traditional Homecoming Parade. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. with former Mountaineer football coach Don Nehlen as parade marshal. The parade will feature the Homecoming court, local high school bands, the award-winning Mountaineer Marching Band, WVU Alumni Band and student floats, among others.
“The staff and students at Student Affairs really pull together this time of year to get applications organized and get the parade rolling,”said Melanie Cook, assistant dean of Student Affairs.”We expect at least 100 different units and with this being an election year, we expect a lot of candidates. Weve been getting a lot of phone calls about the parade. You can bet the parade attendance and spectators will flock early onto High Street that day and well have a rousing good time.”
The weeks activities will culminate at 1 p.m. Saturday with the WVU -Central Florida game at Mountaineer Field. At halftime, WVU officials will announce Homecoming king and queen and honor Nehlen and WVU s Outstanding Alumnus Phil Faini, retired dean of the College of Creative Arts.
The WVU Alumni Association is planning several activities throughout Homecoming weekend. The Alumni Association will sponsor a pre-parade reception from 4:30-6 p.m. Friday in the Bluestone Room of the Mountainlair. The Alumni Associations pre-game tailgate tent will open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Coca-Cola Hospitality Village.
A highlight of the weeks activities follows:
Monday, Oct. 27
- Homecoming candidate forumnoon, Grand Staircase, Mountainlair Banner Contestall day, Mountainlair; judging at 4:30 p.m.
p. Tuesday, Oct. 28
- Greek Games on the Green5 p.m., Lair Plaza Green Voting for Homecoming king and queen
p. Wednesday, Oct. 29
- Voting for Homecoming king and queen Red Cross Blood Drive1-7 p.m., Wesley United Methodist Church
p. Thursday, Oct. 30
- Air Bands5 p.m., Lair Green (Stansbury Gym if it rains)
p. Friday, Oct. 31
- Alumni Association Pre-parade Reception4:30-6 p.m., Bluestone Room, Mountainlair Homecoming Parade6:30 p.m., High Street
p. Saturday, Nov. 1
- Arts&Sciences Lectures Program and Brunch8:30 a.m. registration, main corridor, Woodburn Hall; 9 a.m. faculty lectures, Woodburn Hall classrooms; 10 a.m. Mountaineer Brunch, main floor, Woodburn Hall
- Alumni Pre-game Tailgate Tent10:30 a.m., Coca-Cola Hospitality Village Homecoming Game1 p.m., WVU vs. Central Florida King and queen coronation and other halftime presentations